Brent Barry dialed into the Groz with Gas show on KJR today to talk a bit about the season but really to share his feeling about Seattle's loss of the Sonics and how that is impacting him.  He shared a poem that he has written called "When It Rains" while I am a fairly recent and transient transplant to Seattle and my heart has always been with the, hated by Seattle, Lakers, I really enjoyed living in the Seattle area and supporting the Sonics (wearing my gear today actually) and that was living through some pretty bad years.  Here as a new season starts I am totally stoked for the Lakers but I am sad for Seattle and I am sad that the only basketball I will see will be on TV or on the road.

As the notes come from the City of Seattle vs. Pro Basketball Club of OKC we get to hear a lot from Clay about having to endure more "lame duck" seasons in Seattle.  Now that Ray Allen has a ring (and though I hate the Celtics I am happy for the big 3) I think back to what if we hadn't traded there, what if the ownership decided we are building a strong future team but we are going to put the best product we can on floor what would happen with ticket sales, revenues, results (ie a spot in the play-offs?) and would that be the same lame duck season the it would appear we are going to suffer through should the team be forced to stay.  Chad Ford's mock draft has the following interesting comment:

With one caveat, that is: I spoke with a couple of teams that say the Sonics have called them and made the pick available.

This is after talking about the need we know exists for a solid point guard.  Will the Sonics hurt their ability to get stronger now if they are made to stay?  Force the lame duck nature?  There are other PGs available in the draft and the Sonics have other issues to solve like a real solution at 5 but it kills me when I see comments from the proceedings of "gee, no one is calling us for tickets for next year" what do you expect when they are not actively selling tickets, where there wasn't a lottery party, when the default at this point is the NBA said we approve the move.  Let's get Arlen Spector in here as part of his public funding of stadiums investigation. 

The SOS organization is gearing up for the City of Seattle vs. Professional Basketball Club of OKC hearings which start next week.  This includes a event next Monday at the courthouse.  I unfortunately will be in Texas of all places on business but agree that with GP and X-Man and the attention these efforts have already won that this is a good shot to make the fans' voice heard in national media.  If you can make it and want to make sure that people understand that yes, Seattle cares about its team and wants a role in the NBA (even after being spit on) then get out there and make the crowd swell.  Here is the official announcement:

June 8, 2008 - SEATTLE, WA - Monday, June 16 marks the beginning of historic legal proceedings as the City of Seattle defends its lease to the Seattle SuperSonics in federal court hearings.
Save Our Sonics (SOS) encourages Sonics fans to express their support in a group gathering outside the courthouse (700 Stewart St., Seattle) throughout the day. Sonics legends "The Glove" Gary Payton and "X- Man" Xavier McDaniel are confirmed to attend and speak at 4:30 pm. Other Sonics Legends have been invited and are expected to appear.
Join us to show support for OUR team.
We want to thank everyone for all their support the last couple years. Whenever we have had an event it has been a huge success. But this event is different.
Clay Bennett has told the NBA and the Court that he needs to move the team in part because "no one in Seattle cares about the Sonics". There is no better way to send the message to the court, Oklahoma City, the NBA, and the national media than to pack the court house grounds with Sonics fans dressed in Green and Gold sending the message that we do care about OUR team.
The Main Event starts at 4:30 pm
Please don't assume someone else knows about this event, will show up, or make this happen. Tell your family, your friends, and co-workeds and even car pool to get them to come down.
Bring your kids to see these Sonics legends in person and so the next time we have a championship parade they can tell people they were there when the tide was turned to keep this team.

Steve Kelley of the Seattle Times wrote:
Why is this rally important?

Because people will be watching.

The league doesn't like getting embarrassed and if a huge crowd gathers at the courthouse, the rally will rate ESPN airtime and it will be a signal to the rest of the country that Seattle still cares.

If thousands, instead of hundreds, show up it will be another example that the NBA is dead wrong about this city.

After all the negative remarks from the commissioner's office and from the team's ownership, this will be the most profoundly, populist gesture Seattle fans can make that they believe the game belongs here.

This rally needs thousands of people to make it work. It really is important, because throughout this process, Bennett counted on a cave-in. He thought fans would quit. He figured the mayor and the City Council would capitulate.

He believed he could write a check and ride out of town. Thought he could bully his way out of this lease. He thought it all would be over by now. His team would be in Oklahoma City and he would be heroic.

His group will snicker if only 300 people show. You can imagine the scene, another cool, gray day, a little drizzle and a few hundred people huddled together. The ownership group, the commissioner, the entire NBA will question, once again, Seattle's commitment.

But if thousands gather, rain or shine, the message will be much different.

People will be watching.

And, if you still care about keeping basketball in town, you'll go to the rally next Monday and cheer Payton and McDaniel, the same way you cheered them when they used to thrill us on the floor, when there never was a doubt that the Sonics belonged to Seattle. From "Fans need to send message about Sonics" Seattle Times June 9th, 2008
Representatives of SOS will be in attendance and available to the media throughout the trial. Please direct any media inquiries to the co-founders of Save Our Sonics:
PLEASE JOIN US IN OUR SUPPORT OF THE SONICS! Next Monday at 4:30pm at the Federal Courthouse!
FORWARD THIS MESSAGE TO ANYONE YOU KNOW WHO CARES ABOUT KEEPING THE SONICS IN THE TOWN THEY HAVE BEEN FOR THE PAST 41 YEARS!!!!!!!
Thank you!

Brian and Steve
Save Our Sonics
email: info@saveoursonics.org

Web: http://saveoursonics.org

Well, the traditional WA Do Nothing Political Machine has ended another session and left those hoping for a solution to keeping the Sonics in Seattle high and dry.  In today's Seattle Times we do get a straight answer for once even though that answer makes me pull my hair out (and I am running out of hair to pull).

House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler states:

"If you take too many bold steps, you'll no longer be in the majority "

So we do nothing because we are afraid we will lose office and.....

"If we don't have the majority, we can get nothing done"

So again I do nothing because it keeps me in office....because if we weren't all in office we could never get anything done...that is the problem in Washington (and frankly in many states etc) we never get anything done because we don't have leaders we have politicians who are interested in "serving"....serving trite statements, ducking issues, not taking stands, making speeches, going to dinners and events, sitting in committee anything but taking action.  Why exactly do we elect these people.  They are elected to lead to get a job done, we need to be better at carrying out performance reviews and letting underperforming employees go.  The trouble is it is hard to find anyone better to replace them because the people that really want to get things done are busy getting it done in corporations and non-profits.  I guess the only good thing we can say in WA is at least they are only part time employees but it seems like we could save a lot of money but just letting all these employees go and letting the people do the job directly or moving everything to the local community. 

Fortunately in the case of the Sonics and Key Arena, it looks like just this may be happening as the PI reports today that a local developer, Matt Griffin is willing to step in with half the funding for the renovation project.  Just as long as no politician beyond maybe the mayor is there for the celebration and ribbon cutting ceremony.

There are many great sets of questions be posted on the TIME "ask a question" site right now but I really like this one because I doubt it will be answered and it points to a situation that I hope we can avoid and the way to avoid it is to get to the negotiation table:

Posted by Jim J. in seattle:

1. Are you looking forward to being under oath in June with Slade Gordan asking you all the questions you are now avoiding?

2. Are you looking forward to Seattle attorney’s displaying all the internal and finacial records of the NBA in court this June?

3. Are you glad that one of your owners decided he would sue the City that paid millions to renovate their arena just 12 years ago because he now wants to back out of the teams contract despite the fact that you consistently have called NBA teams “Public Trusts” that are a valuable parts of a cities culturale, social and economic life?

4. Are you comforatable with Clay Bennett’s documented position in his law suit that says if the Sonics left Seattle it would have no impact - economic or otherwise - on the city…

And this coming after arguing the opposite less than a year before while asking for 500 million dollars of public money from Washington taxpayers?

And this happening at the same time he was asking OKC for $100,000,000 and justifying this request by saying an NBA team adds economic and social value to a city?

5. Are you excited about having this court case happening during the NBA finals this June?

6. Are you really comforatable saying Clay Bennett has made a “Good faith” effort to keep the team in Seattle?

7. Are you looking forward to the litigation Hell you & your league will be in for if you make this move while lawyers dream of putting you & Clay under oath to talk about this “Good Faith” effort that was promised to Seattle and was included as a specific clause in the Sale of the Sonics to Clay 2 years ago?

8. Do you have a headache?

Every week TIME online has an ask a question opportunity where questions can be submitted by anyone and then from this 10 will be pulled and answered.  Mr. Stern is getting a good number of questions about the future of the Sonics and I am glad to see that this isn't just from people living in the Seattle area but from around the globe.  You can view the rapidly growing list here: http://time-blog.com/10questions/2008/02/28/david-stern/#comment-689

I want to add my voice to those asking that the state act now on the proposal to renovate Key Arena.  It is true that we "may" be able to wait another year but my feeling is that is the NBA doesn't have an option at this year's meeting not only will we not keep the current Sonics (seems a bit unlikely anyway) but we will also greatly diminish our chances to get another team.  We are at a point where a window has been opened and where bold leadership can create a positive drive to the future. 
I understand that there are many other needs and opportunities but I ask that rather than trying to build the perfect omnibus package of taxes and improvements that we tackle this problem that has a solution right now.  It is a solution that doesn't ask for more, just that we commit to operating as before.  A decision with 1/2 the input being private funding.  A decision that stands for keeping a vibrant Seattle Center and which would show that even in a year of economic downturn, Seattle is the right place a place with vision, a place with public/private partnership, a place that support a wide cultural diversity.  In a year, that private money may not be there.  The "smorgasbord of projects to the arts, education, youth sports, low-income housing, etc" I feel will end up like the never moving forward solutions to transportation problems because you can't solve everything at once, you can't bundle it all into one thing (it becomes an accounting nightmare and looses efficiency).  Focus and determination is what drives results.  Remember you eat an elephant a bite at a time and this proposal to renovate the Key looks like a very palatable bite.

I contacted all my representatives in Olympia about picking up their end of the stick for the Key Arena refurbishment.  Here is the letter I just received back.  It continues to look bleak in this long-shot attempt.

Thomas,

Thanks for the email. The Sonics basketball team is a tremendous asset to our area and helps make the Seattle area a great place to live, so I am hopeful a solution can still be found to keep them in Washington.

However, the vast majority of messages from my district are strongly opposed to any state revenue being spent on the Sonics, especially when you realize that the net worth of the 3 new owners is in fact larger than the state's entire operating budget of $33 billion. It would be an indefensible vote to send money to the Sonics when we have schools being closed on the eastside and per pupil spending for K-12 near the bottom in the country. It is also apparent to many that the city of Seattle has the revenue capability right now to issue the bonds needed to raise

$75 million, even as a stop gap funding source, until a long term arrangement can be worked out. And don't forget, the Seattle City Council works full time, so they do not have the same deadline the legislature does.

Our position in the House has been from the beginning that the legislature will deal with this issue next session when we are set to consider a possible extension of the current funding sources such as the hotel/motel tax, restaurant tax and rental car tax. These are funding sources given to King County to help pay for sports stadiums and art programs and generate revenue that could not be used for K-12 education.

Again, I hope a deal can be worked out soon, but I believe that depends on the willingness of new owners to negotiate a deal over time, some indication from the current owners to consider a sale, something about which I am very skeptical (how does Bennett go home and tell Oklahoma..."just kidding!" but I sure made some money), and Seattle's willingness to step up now.

Thanks again for your message, and please contact me again if you have further thoughts or questions.

Regards,

Larry

Larry Springer

45th District State Representative

Olympia Office: (360) 786-7822

Toll-Free Message Hotline: 1-800-562-6000

The vote in Oklahoma looks to be that of full support to step in line for NBA owner hostageship as a whopping 30% of votes went to the polls and passed the measure to extend their one cent sales tax by 62% pro.  The city leaders are rejoicing because now:

“We really are creating a city where people want to be, and this is a golden age in Oklahoma City,” Mayor Mick Cornett said. “I think someday we will look back and people will realize it.”

While I love basketball and I really want the Sonics to stay in Seattle, the team being here is only a small piece of why I would or wouldn't want to be in Seattle.  But I understand when you are a small town it is great to have an option besides the bowling alley for friday night fun :-)

If things continue as they seem destined at this point (I know that there are some owners that will vote no and that we are assembling new ownership groups etc.) it will be interesting to see how long this upgrade to the Ford center will last...afterall this is a new building already.  Certainly this was an easier pill to swallow but funny to think that we can do the same dollars in improvements to the Key, that just won't do.  Extending an existing tax is always easier than adding a new one.  That is one of the onerous things about tagging little increases to the sales tax.  Oh, it is only for X years and we need it for Name The Project.  Somehow once you swallow it the first time it will never go away.  How long will this round of improvements work until the Basketball Club of OK City needs another infusion because they can't make money?  

As a fan that ponies up plenty to go to games, on merchandise, etc. beyond the does Seattle keep the Sonics or not I had hoped for a defeat in OK City for similar reasons to those expressed in True Hoops today 

The question is: are there cities out there willing to make getting an NBA team their top financial priority, even as more and more people are losing their homes to foreclosure?  .... But if owners across the league are feeling a little more pressure to be frugal, then the marketplace of the NBA could calm down a tad and reduce player salaries -- not by collective bargaining, but by reducing demand -- over the long haul. If players made 20% less money, the league wouldn't suffer one little bit, and owners might contribute more to stadiums.

Oklahoma may become a "Big League City" but at some point the novelty will wear off and if the team is going to be competitive in the West in today's economics they will have to spend some major dollars at some point as the rebuilding project gets through it's rookie contracts there will be some serious bills to pay.  Even with payroll there is no guarantee and I don't see how this team unless it takes off will generate a fan base outside the city itself and that means ultimately Mr. Bennett and co. could see the value of their investment drop. 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3255661&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

So long Kurt, thanks for what you brought to a young core this year.  We get two old guys in exchange but the first round pick next year will have some value.  Don't know where these guys (Elson and Barry) are contract wise but if it provides expiring contracts etc. it plays into the rebuilding effort...just hard to get excited about that since we may never enjoy the fruits.  It is definitely a downgrade for this year and I guess we are in the race for the lottery officially. 

From a San Antonio perspective it is a good move given that everyone is bulking up (except Dallas) and it is another question for did Dallas make the right move?  Certainly jKidd is a great point guard and this can make great offensive flow but in a division of speed: Golden State, Suns (leaving shaq on defensive end), Hornets and a division of post power: Lakers, Suns, Spurs it just doesn't seem like Dallas has any team where there is a match-up advantage or any additional flexibility. 

The last couple of weeks have certainly upped the level of angst on the future of the Sonics.  First there is the offer of a buy out that is rejected, then Mr. Stern hops back in with a give it up message, and thus we continue to accelerate to the end game with a battle of is there a price at which Seattle leadership gives up because the first offer wasn't "good enough" since the city council thinks like a council in terms of budget and Bennet and Co think like businessmen in terms of profit (looking at a year to year not a sale to sale fiew).  Seattle (depending on who you talk to) isn't interested in a buy out, Bennet isn't interested in selling the team...but each fo these groups must have some price.  Each group has fiduciary responsibility to a set of constituents.  Unfortunately the community gets dropped on the floor in this.  A team has no responsibility to the fans, the ones that bought into the value of the product in the first place and in turn helped raise the value of the team.  The fan is left dangling between parties that have positions that don't include communicating with each other or evaluating options.  Each has a proposal and a position that it is myway or the highway. 

As for the Ok City radio crew that produced this: http://downloads.newsok.com/podcasts/feb19nba.mp3 the issue isn't specifically the name though the name is attached to the identity.  It is to say that this team has an identity, one that is associated to the pacific northwest and one that is connected to a community.  The team may move but it will be another team and this team will die only to live in memory.

Beyond the fans, I feel for the team members right now.  Then again, team members move now from team to team and there are few that are "sonics for life" but the instability along with the mixed feeling you have in the Key where attendance is flagging, fans are depressed, and it is tough to put up with "rebuilding" when we won't enjoy the end result. 

I can only hope that as this chess match grinds forward that Bennet's price is met before Seattle's and that Oklahoma gets the Hornets permanently if any team is to move.  But the city needs to make sure they are on the same page and takes a firm stance.

 So, last Friday I sat in my lower bowl seats, tonight I sat in my courtside seats and I thought I would share a bit about what the courtside experience is like at a game.  We sit done on the home side end line just in front of "that guy" which is cool because everyone knows him. 

Anyhow, first off you get to park right next to the arena (pre-paid) you cross a street and enter a covered walkway that goes by the players parking lot and the ramp where the visiting team busses also load out.  Then you get to the "private" entrance:

Once you enter you are in a little reception area, there is a coat check available and if there is a gift of the night (a la tonight's Nick Collison bobble head) you pick it up off a table.  You wander down a little corridor and take a right down the stairs to the floor level.  At this point you can head back to the X&O courtside connection which is open all game long with a variety of food, much better than what is served in the general area...mainly because a) there is no line really b) you can have all you want and serve yourself c) there is a bit more variety including fruit and cheese, vegtables and dip, deserts, sandwiches, and a couple "chef" stations where they are whipping up food for you.  All of this food and drink is "free" and you can stand along the tunnel where the team comes out.

At 1/2 time you get stat sheets which tonight showed you how poorly we were doing.  We shot ok but got killed on the boards and that combined with the fact that both teams shot about the same percentage and a few more turnovers for the Sonics and you get the 10 point loss. 

Just because you are courtside doesn't mean you don't have to put up with fans cheering for the "wrong team" after all we were cheering for the Lakers when they were in town and the guys next to us tonight were cheering for da Bulls. But you tend to not get obnoxious fans cheering for the wrong team....no one wants trouble with this guy:

You will also learn at this level that one problem the Sonics have, is they don't talk to each other very much on either the defensive or offensive side.  Wally got on a couple guys early in the game for this specifically. 

You also get to walk around the perimeter of the court so you really can see how large some of these guys are and today I got to answer one of the questions I have had for a while which is what is the official game ball like.  I love the official ball from the way it feels on a shot and the way it dribbles but if you have ever held one you know that they are hard and pretty slick feeling which is why I wondered about Shaq's complaint about the composite ball they started last season with feeling like "plastic" since the "official ball" does feel hard and plastic like.  I figured maybe they had some way to break it in so that it was a bit softer and gripier line any of the college balls like the top line Adidas or Nike ball or the Baden but no, the game ball is just like any official ball you would buy in the store which is why you see the players applying a nice tacky coating of rosin to their hands before entering the game.  Guys with small hands need not apply.

Of course sitting on the floor you are close to the action and you really see the physicality, the missed calls, and feel the power of a rocked rim.  it is definitely a great experience and with the poor fills rates the arena is having this year there is probably a chance that you can find decent priced tickets on Stubhub or the Sonics Ticket Exchange.

Yes, Swifty returned to play but at this point he isn't so Swift getting beat down the court, beat to the rack, etc. but still he put a few shots in the hole, pulled down a couple boards and the loss can't just be layed at his feet. 

oops, my guy beat me down the court again

A big Sonics issues is too many guys out on injury like Mr. Green.  Damien really isn't taking advantage of the opportunity.  He is getting burned on D, isn't shooting well, doesn't pass well.  It is just sad looking over at the bench and seeing what you have to bring in most of the time:

So, when you have a game like tonight where you start getting guys in foul trouble it gets shaky fast.  Johan is playing WAY better the last few games.  Still doesn't box effectively many times, his block timing is a bit suspect but there is better footspeed, he can shoot from a variety of locations and I would imagine that Mr. Thomas is having a positive affect. Luke has been playing pretty well though Earl still is tougher on D.

Durrant had an ok night but nothing spectacular and there were a couple times he could have laid it off and we would have ended up with more points.  Wally is shooting the lights out and brings a great overall toughness and good Bball IQ.  I was glad that the ankle was servicable given Damien's play and the lack of Jeff Green. 

  ...now you know that was a foul...

Weezy has also been stepping up.  I think he must have read/heard the comment that he hasn't progressed and develop much beyond taking the Watson alley-oop.  Lately he has shown the ability to create his own offense and finish solid at the rack and hits a good free-throw percentage. 

All in all, it ain't pretty but it was nice to get a bit of sun with the 3 game win streak.  Hopefully it won't be such a long stretch until the team gets another this time around.

The team dressed 11 players tonight but really only 9 of them could play (factually not subjectively...that would be worse) but that was all it took to beat the sorry Nicks.  Jamal Crawford went off for the home crowd.  He said pre-game that he had 40 tickets for friends and family, that was about 1/10th of the initial crowd at the tip which is pretty sad for a friday night at the Key. 

Damien is definitely not making the most of his opportunity to be back in the starting line-up and for much of the game this was looking like a college game score wise.  Wilcox seems to be improving a bit.  He is developing a better post game in certain situations able to create his own shot which is sorely needed. 

The product mix at the key has really taken a step back this year.  It has been this way all season and I don't know if it is the Sonics or the Key though last year with the new owners it seemed like things improved.  The food is worse, especially the pizza, the service is worse, the half-time shows it all just kind of stinks.  So you get the foul nature of the owners trying to move the team, a tough season at the beginning of a rebuild, light crowds and the overall package can be depressing at times but a win, that makes it all good.

Monday I am on the floor for the game with the Bulls.  I am hopeful that we can push it to 4 games in a row which is a nice stretch after the huge loss streak. 

The papers reported and now the official mailing is going out.  The Storm have been sold to a local Seattle group and if I am reading correctly women lead which I think is outstanding.  This is positive for Seattle, positive for Key Arena, positive for a team with a strong fan base (which should grow on this announcement) and I believe positive for the WNBA building sets of strong independent owners and teams that can stand alone from the NBA. 

SEATTLE - WNBA President Donna Orender announced today that a select group of Seattle businesswomen and civic leaders has secured an exclusive option to purchase the Seattle Storm.

"Today is a great day for Storm fans. Seattle is a terrific WNBA city and I'm thrilled for Storm fans who have been so supportive of their team over the years," Orender said. "What this group of women is doing is yet another example of that famous Seattle civic leadership. I have no doubt that this group of women, with support from the public, business community and elected officials, will be able to make a strong case for this sale to be approved by the Board of Governors."

Hopefully this is just the start of a turn around for Seattle professional basketball.  If Clay Bennet wants to see a team that has financial struggle with low attendance, just work with New Orleans.  OK loved the Hornets, make it permanent.  But keep the Sonics in Seattle and work towards a viable solution.

Considering this was a back to back where the team traveled home from LA last night, that they lost the services of Nick Collison and untypically had a poor first half, this game had some solid signs with the team battling back in the 3rd and 4th quarters and making it very exciting down the stretch.  However, when they had the finish line in site and had pulled within a couple, the lost defensive focus giving away uncontested dunks to Howard (who was awesome but how does a huge beast like this slip in under the basket unseen?) and the offense fell flat.  Turkgolu who was the Magic's second leading scorer has 5 fouls, comes back in the game when the score gets tight and rather than running at him and getting him fouled out we start missing poor threes and he hits another wide open one to start the run pulling them back away for the final gap.  Howard gets pushed to 4 fouls which was fantastic but how do you not get him in foul trouble early? 

Petro is still amazingly slow and clumsy, Sene has length and can get down the court but still is lost at times and needs work.  Kurt Thomas played a solid game but he can't play these extended minutes game in and game out.  Overall a pathetic 35.4% shooting, that will never get the job done unless you are pulling twice as many rebounds as your opponent and even then it is a bad direction to be headed.  However, a solid 80.8% from the line.  You have to hit a way higher percentage of your shots at home.  Of course a lack of solid in the paint ability kills the team from that perspective and there is no end in site to this. 

The Key was maybe 1/2 full, either the very loudest of loyal fans or they miked it up a bit because it got plenty loud as the gap was closed down the stretch.  Most satisfaction of the game may have been that Rashard was held to 9 points. 

On a different slant, the food service at the key this year has in general gone down a good bit.  I have been stuck in long lines at undermanned counters, 1/2 the registers tonight were cash only.  The pizza is garbage.  I don't know if this is the city or the team who selects staff/menu etc.  If it is the team, they are doing a "great job" of showing us how "inadequate" the Key is.  If it is the city, they are just helping build the case for why this arena is way behind the times. 

Tonight's win against the Hawks makes it two in a row after a real rough start.  These may be wins against struggling teams but at this point so are the Sonics.  Damien was lighting it up tonight with 41 points on 15 for 20 shooting but Durrant's game winner in double overtime was awesome.  Off balance, fading away, well covered and bang!! Winner.  What I liked most was there was more defense going on...mainly in the first half but a half of holding the opponent under 40% for that half is promising.  So far this is my biggest dissappointment the the "new look" Sonics...it is a bunch of new guys but still the old look of no defense. 

Chris Wilcox is stuck up here in the Pacific NW, on a team that struggles and overshadowed by wonderkind K Durrant.  As part of Seattle's drive to show that the NBA belongs in Seattle, fans should vote often and use the write-in portion of the ballot to get the Sonic players that were left off the ballot.

Vote it daily and show your Sonics players you are behind them even if you deeply dislike the owners.

http://www.nba.com/allstar2008/asb/eng/ballot.html

It isn't just that the Sonics won tonight but that they won this one wire to wire and at times were blowing the Heat out.  Yes, the Heat are stumbling along but Wade is back and it is an experienced group that has been together and which has some solid pieces still.  Another piece was that the Sonics seemed to be trying to find a way to lose this thing down stretch yet, they figured out how to hang in there.  West and Watkins both had trouble moving the ball getting trapped to often and there were needless, careless turnovers.  Stat wise it was a solid performance for everything except TOs.  The most troubling part would be after the great start and strong 1/2 the team was flat in Q3, you can't let a team gain hope at that point.

Atlanta represents the opportunity to make it two in a row.  Another young team with good potential.  Wins may be hard to find all year so you have to get the ones that you can.

Today's PI quotes both the governor and Renton's Margarita Prentice as working to find a solution to keep the Sonic's in Seattle in a much more proactive fashion than "our door is always open" statements we have heard of late.  In essence the ball is in our court and Stern won't move the team if there is a viable solution (though defining the parameters of viable may be hard).  So it was great to see quotes like this:

"I don't want, a couple of years from now, to look back with regret that we didn't do everything we could to keep the Sonics and the Storm. So I'm continuing to work and have private conversations with a good number of folks. I still remain optimistic, and I think David Stern should keep his powder dry."

from the governor and hopefully this will get a few people working a solution to put before the state for the January docket.  A couple proposals that could first be discussed with Bennett and then driven to more action than the last Renton arena attempt. 

"So, are you going to end up moving the team to Cleveland"

Drew: "No, I am loyal to the Seattle fans"  ....Drew, you want to help bring some basketball vision to Seattle?

City of Seattle, "The door is always open" isn't going to cut it.  It is time to create some strong proposals and show some vision.  Something that brings excitement and continued growth and expands options rather than removing them.